Though many research papers rely on in-text citations and works cited pages, some disciplines still prefer you to use endnotes to reference your sources. Learning how to do endnotes will help you point your readers to the sources you used, as well as add credibility to your research paper.

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Steps

1

Understand how endnotes are used. Endnotes provide your readers with information about your sources. This shows that you have appropriate and reliable resources for information within your research paper. Endnotes are different from parenthetical citations, footnotes, and a works cited page.

Endnotes are placed at the end of your paper, documenting sources used throughout the entire paper. It provides specific information, such as page or paragraph number where your source material can be found within the listed publication.

Works cited pages are also at the end of your paper, but simply provide a list of resources you used. It does not include page numbers or more specific information.

Footnotes appear at the bottom of each page, documenting the sources and page numbers used on that particular page.

Parenthetical or in-text citations occur within the text of your paper immediately after you reference someone else's work. They also include page or paragraph numbers.

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2

Identify the style guide you are using. Each discipline has its preferred way of citing sources. Ask your instructor which style guide they would prefer you to use for your research paper.

Those in arts and humanities tend to use the Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook.

Those in psychology and the social sciences use the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual.

Other disciplines usually prefer the Chicago Style, also known as the Turabian Style.

3

Create your works cited or bibliography page as you research. You may not need to turn this in to your instructor, but it will keep all of your bibliographical information in one place. This will act as your guide for compiling your endnotes.

Include all publication information, including author(s), title, publisher, city, and year. Other sources may require additional information.

Note that the way you cite bibliographical information on a works cited page may be different than the way you are required to cite it in an endnote. Pay special attention to punctuation requirements within your style guide.

4

Use note numbers throughout your research paper. Note numbers occur in superscript immediately after information you use from another source. The information could be a direct quote, but it may also be a paraphrase.

Use Arabic numbers, not asterisks, Roman numerals, or other symbols.

Number notes consecutively throughout the entire paper.

Use superscript. Superscript raises the number up slightly and sets it apart from the rest of the text.

Do not place a period or other symbol after the number.

Place the number after the punctuation at the end of the sentence.

5

Create your endnotes page. This occurs on a new page after the text of your research paper. Continue the pagination of your research paper instead of starting back at page 1.

Write "Notes" at the top of the page and center it.

Indent each endnote half an inch (or 5 spaces) from the left margin.

Use the appropriate citation form per your style guide.

6

Use the correct formatting. Check your style guide to see if your entries should be double-spaced or single-spaced. Also check if the second line of an entry should be indented or not, should the publication information require that your entry continues onto a second line.

7

Include the right information. The information you include in the endnote is determined by whether or not this is the first time you are referencing the source.

Include publication information the first time you reference that source. This provides the reader with all the necessary information to find the source and learn more.

Use only the author's last name and page number on subsequent citations. This may change if you have more than one source from an individual or a source without an author.

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